Category Archives: Church

The Sad State of Pastoral Thinking

By Chaplain Mike Every time I think I see a ray of hope in the evangelical church, I come across some pablum that reminds me how many asylums across the land have been taken over by the inmates. Take this recent example of pastoral “insight” from Perry Noble, published in the Christian Post. Please. TheContinue reading “The Sad State of Pastoral Thinking”

First Thoughts on “Community”

By Chaplain Mike Today, I heard an interesting interview on the NPR program, Fresh Air with Todd S. Purdum, national editor of Vanity Fair, who has written a piece in the latest edition called, “Washington: We Have a Problem” For this article, Purdum spent a day at the White House with the president and hisContinue reading “First Thoughts on “Community””

Opinion: Are We “At Our Courageous Best”?

By Chaplain Mike At their courageous best, clergy lead where people aren’t asking to go, because that’s how the range of issues that concern them expands, and how a holy community gets formed. • G. Jeffrey MacDonald How wonderful to open the New York Times Sunday edition this week and find a thoughtful word ofContinue reading “Opinion: Are We “At Our Courageous Best”?”

iMonk Classic: A Generous Catholicity

Classic iMonk Post by Michael Spencer Originally posted February 8, 2006 We like the creeds….except for the catholic parts. “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints…” -The Apostle’s Creed “And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;… Amen.”Continue reading “iMonk Classic: A Generous Catholicity”

Open Mic: Our Money, Our Neighbors

By Chaplain Mike Economics has been leading the news and preoccupying our minds for the past couple of years now, ever since the financial crisis that hit hard in 2007, with continuing effects on economies here and around the world. Some of you may be reeling from losing a job, not being able to findContinue reading “Open Mic: Our Money, Our Neighbors”

A Long Pause from Impermanence

By Chaplain Mike I hope no reader will suppose that “mere” Christianity is here put forward as an alternative to the creeds of the existing communions—as if a man could adopt it in preference to Congregationalism or Greek Orthodoxy or anything else. It is more like a hall out of which doors open into severalContinue reading “A Long Pause from Impermanence”

American Patriotic Christianity: A Canadian Perspective

By Michael Bell This past month we celebrated both Canada Day on July 1st, and Independence Day on July 4th. This inspired some thoughts about getting some Canadian perspectives on “American Patriotic Christianity”. As I am the lone Canadian writer at Internet Monk, I gathered up seven of my Canadian, primarily “unchurched” friends, to getContinue reading “American Patriotic Christianity: A Canadian Perspective”

Open Mic: Short-Term Mission Trips

By Chaplain Mike According to Warren Cole Smith in his book, A Lover’s Quarrel with the Evangelical Church (full review to come later this weekend), short-term mission trips may be more of a problem than a productive way of doing the work of Christ’s Kingdom. He cites Robert Priest, professor of mission and intercultural studiesContinue reading “Open Mic: Short-Term Mission Trips”

IM Book Review: Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites…And Other Lies You’ve Been Told

Reviewed by Michael Bell The title of Bradley Wright’s Book, Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites… and Other Lies You’ve Been Told, certainly grabs your attention. The book itself does a pretty good job of keeping that attention. If you are looking for a book that gives an easy to read, yet comprehensive assessment of the statusContinue reading “IM Book Review: Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites…And Other Lies You’ve Been Told”